 |
The Focus Electric is Ford's first ever all-electric car, and is based on the Focus five-door hatchback, with a few changes. The most notable of which is the new grille which gives it an Aston Martin-like look, 17-inch aluminium wheels, and a "light ring" that surrounds the vehicle's charging port, and indicates the batteries' state of charge via a series of flashing quadrant lights, with a solid quadrant indicating a complete charge.
The electric motor itself produces 123bhp and 245Nm of torque, mated to a single speed transmission, and allows the car to reach a top speed of 136km/h. The motor is powered by a lithium-ion battery system developed with LG Chem, and Ford says that the car can be charged fully in three to four hours with its optional 240-volt charge station, or about half the time of the Nissan Leaf's charge time. Ford has not disclosed the range of the Focus Electric when fully charged, but it is said to be around 160km.
Inside, the Focus Electric features new eco technologies such as fabrics made from recycled materials, an EcoGuide instrument panel, and a special version of Ford's MyFord Touch driver connectivity system, specifically developed for the Focus Electric. This system displays information such as battery status, estimated range remaining, and the electrical demands of vehicle accessories such as the air conditioner, and Ford has also optimized the system to work with the MyFord Mobile application, which owners can use to remotely lock and unlock doors as well as setup a charging schedule so the vehicle can be recharged at night when electricity rates are cheaper.
The Focus Electric will be produced at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, and go on sale in America by the end of 2011 in the following cities: Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Tucson, Portland, Raleigh Durham, Richmond, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Ford has not released details on whether it will offer the Focus Electric in other markets around the world, but a European version is expected to be launched by 2013.
